Natural Resources

Natural Resources Management Group ~ Wildlife Management

Wildlife Cameras   |   Species Monitoring   |   Wildlife Linkages  |  Collision Reduction  

Wildlife habitat management is more than the focus to remove dense vegetative cover and highly palatable plants species, which severe as attractants to herbivores, near the roadway. NRMG is tasked with surveying and studying wildlife along roadways in an attempt to reduce fatalities to wildlife and collisions of wildlife and vehicles.

Through vegetation management, activities focus on removal of cover for large animals to make them more visible to the motoring public. The ultimate goal is to facilitate wildlife movement under, around or over roadways, through improved transportation planning and construction.

Wildlife Cameras

Wildlife behavior may be altered by roadways. The alternative to crossing the roadway includes utilizing existing structures such as underpasses, bridges, and culverts. The likelihood of species using these alternative structures (animal type versus structure size/form) is variable and is not completely understood. To better understand the affects of these roadway structures on animal behavior, we have established a monitoring program. Through the use of infrared surveillance systems we hope to record utilization of existing structures that may be used to model future crossing structures.

Wildlife Linkages

Wildlife movement corridors (wildlife linkages) connect historical home ranges (habitats) that have been fragmented by roadways. Utilizing data from a variety of projects NRMG hopes to develop a better understanding of wildlife interaction with roadways and associated structures. ADOT is a partner in a statewide project to identify all wildlife linkages, and highlight barriers to safe passage through these areas. This interagency project joins federal, state and non-profit agencies in a quest to answer the following questions:

Collision Reduction

Habitat fragmentation can occur with the construction of a roadway. Wildlife will attempt to maintain traditional migratory routes across these transportation corridors. Vehicle/wildlife collision numbers/data reflect the challenge roadways pose to wildlife, as many crossings become fatal. NRMG currently uses GPS receivers to record locations of animal/vehicle collisions. These data are added to a database and shared with other agencies concerned with natural resources conservation.

• Wildlife reflectors have been installed along a seven-mile stretch of State Route 260 within the 2002 Rodeo/Chediski Fire area.  These reflectors are designed to deter elk, deer, and other wildlife away from the roadway when vehicles approach. 
• Another solution is the placement of 8 to 12 foot high wildlife fencing along the right-of-way.  This, however, would segment wildlife populations such as elk and deer.  Existing highway bridges could be used as wildlife passages if wildlife fencing were tied into the bridges, funneling wildlife under the roadway.  This would allow wildlife populations to move freely and improve driver safety.
• Diversion fencing has been installed along State Route 86 to prevent Sonoran Desert Tortoise from crossing, and channeling them to culverts.

Species Monitoring

NRMG partners with the Arizona Game and Fish Department to monitor wildlife throughout the state where roadways are potentially causing harm to species population and/or health.  We have provided assistance in tracking, trapping, and traffic control efforts.

We have been involved with the monitoring of the following species:

• Desert Tortoise US 93, SR 86
• Desert Bighorn Sheep US 93
• Elk I-40, I-17

NRMG Bluebird Monitoring-

Bluebirds are neither threatened nor endangered, however, their habitat is.  Bluebirds nest in the cavities of trees, and this habitat is being destroyed by forest fires, urban sprawl or stolen by exotic cavity nesters, such as House Sparrows and European Starlings.

• In 2002, the ADOT Natural Resources Management Group, Flagstaff Region, built and installed 10 bluebird boxes near Flagstaff along highways I-17, SR 180, and I-40.
• In 2005 we were rewarded with the first signs that bluebirds were utilizing the boxes.
• Bluebird nests were found in three of the boxes along Arizona SR 180, with a total of 12 successful fledglings. We continue to maintain and monitor the project every spring, building a more complete bluebird trail on SR 180, where the volume and speed limits of traffic are lower.